LeBron James scores 30-point double-double but the Lakers need overtime to beat the Timberwolves

In a war of attrition, the Los Angeles Lakers were able to come back from multiple deficits to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 108-102 in the first Western Conference play-in game.

Although leading for parts of the first and second quarters, they both finished trailing by six and 11 points respectively as they struggled to hit their shots.

Despite trailing by 15 at one point in the third quarter, this Lakers team that started LeBron James and Anthony Davis was able to bounce back and make its way past a Timberwolves team that played without Rudy Gobert.

A Dennis Schroder three-point ball that went through the net with 1.4 seconds left should have been enough for the Lakers to make the playoffs. However, Anthony Davis fouled Mike Conley behind the arc, Conley cleared all three free throws and the game went into overtime.

In overtime, the Lakers hit a 3-pointer early thanks to Rui Hachimura and never looked back as they secured their spot in the playoffs and will play the seventh seed against the Memphis Grizzlies.

LeBron James handed Schroder the ball – which would have ended the game had it not been for a foul

Mike Conley went to the line and cleared all three free throws to force OT after Davis fouled him

There, LeBron & co. took over – took a lead early in the period and never looked back

After the match, Davis apologized to James and Schroder for his mistake in dirtying Conley, as LeBron joked to TNT.

“It’s a shame that the AD brain farted and made a mess of it [Schroder’s] winner of the game,” James said, pointing to Davis.

Davis then came on screen and said, “I screwed up the winner of his game, my apologies.” My apologies,” before leaving the interview.

James led the way for the Lakers with 30 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, while Davis came in with 24 points and 15 rebounds. Off the bench, Schroder had a clutch performance with 21 points and four rebounds.

Meanwhile, for Minnesota, Karl-Anthony Towns dominated the scoresheet and glass – tallying 24 points, 11 points and five assists.

The initial reaction after the game ended led to criticism of Minnesota and their performance throughout the stretch.

“This wasn’t about the Lakers coming back, this was about the Timberwolves putting the game away,” TNT analyst Charles Barkley joked after the game.

Other sports analysts commented, including Fox’s Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe.

“Time for the King to end this, crown himself,” Bayless wrote during the fourth quarter.

“Bron has gone up in smoke,” Sharpe noted late in the game. “Oldest man on the field and it’s not close and he’s played the most minutes.”

Sports critic Skip Bayless tried to prod LeBron from home, as he has done so many times before

Meanwhile, LeBron’s friend Shannon Sharpe noticed that James seemed to be getting tired of late